William Gilbert Rodarte, age 85 of Franklin, formerly of Renville, passed away Thursday, February 7, 2019 at his home. Memorial Services will be held at a later date. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
William Gilbert Rodarte was born November 30, 1933 to William Rodarte and Mary Malushi in Los Angeles, California. William grew up in San Francisco, CA, where he attended school and graduated from Poly High School. He entered into the Navy on September 10, 1952 and he served in the Korean War as a Radioman on S405 until 1956. In September of 1957, he met the love of his life Jean Marie Waukechon in college in San Francisco. William caught the Asian flu and was out a couple weeks. He decided to withdraw because it would be impossible to catch up on his math formulas in Architectural School; so a few weeks later he and Jean eloped on Valentine’s Day 1958 in Carson City, NV. William reenlisted in the Navy February 1958 serving until August 1975 as a Radioman on a submarine. He retired in Orlando, FL as Chief Petty Officer with an honorable discharge on August 29, 1975, first career of twenty-three years. He then worked towards his BA in Sociology, while Jean helped put him through school towards the Master Program at the University of Central Florida, which he graduated with MA in Sociology 1979. He used his degree as a Drug Abuse counselor up until 1981. He then went to work for United States Postal Service in 1981 as Computerized Forwarding System Analysis. Second Career had begun for the next twenty-three years. In 2004, after he retired from U.S.P.S, he received his Realtor license in Denver, CO he worked with his daughter Alexis and then son-in-law Jim Nelson, but a few months into it he decided that wasn’t his cup of tea and decided to enjoy the Golden years with his wife Jean. He and his wife Jean became born again in 1979 Christian Non-Denominational faith. William was a member of the Senior Center of Morton. He enjoyed traveling, watching football, playing cards with friends and family, reading novels by John Lescroart, books, bingo at the casino, and water-color painting.
William is survived by his children: Alexis Rae Rodarte-Nelson of Franklin, MN, Catherine Noreen Rodarte of Thornton, CO, and Rod Andrew Rodarte of Keaau, Hawaii; grandchildren: Norisa Rae, Teyjon, Miles and Jesse; great grandchildren: Damoni, Tiffany, Marcus, Trevor, Kirstin, Noah, Cameron, Sophia and Alexander; siblings: Roy Rodarte, Nadine, Nedi, Lorena, Molly, Angie, Lucy, and Sal; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents William Rodarte and Mary Gaboldon, wife Jean M. Rodarte, grandson Rod Andrew Waukechon Rodarte, and brother David Keller.